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Even a stunning rise to No1 in the world has not made Jordan Spieth immune to learning curves. At the culmination of a spell that has proved the epitome of golfing globetrotting, the Texan admitted constantly crossing from the PGA Tour to the European Tour is a stiff ask.

Golf’s aristocracy has been enlarged to a quartet. Cynics once claimed Rickie Fowler could not be classed among the elite, that colour and character were not backed up by tangible reward. An anonymous survey of fellow players even insisted he was among the most overrated in this sport.

It does not require Hercule Poirot to determine where the focus will be during the opening two days of the HSBC Championship. The grouping of Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy should at least ensure peace and quiet for the other 123 members of the field.

From the brow of the bunker in the crook of the dogleg midway down Augusta’s 2nd fairway the ground falls away so steeply the course seems to unfold itself beneath your feet, a great green blanket spread across the Georgia countryside.

Rory McIlroy’s demeanour tells any onlooker he is not consumed by the pressure of trying to complete a clean sweep of major championships at his second attempt. As the 26-year-old himself put it: “Someone told me once that pressure is for tyres.”

If the absence of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood from the first WGC event of the year counts as a surprise, Matt Fitzpatrick’s arrival on the outskirts of Miami points towards the prominence of a fresh English generation. Or, perhaps, further evidence of a changing of the guard.

Rory McIlroy’s Masters week received the ideal kick-start as the Northern Irishman produced a hole-in-one at Augusta National’s 16th on Monday. Using a seven iron, McIlroy delighted the crowd with a 170-yard ace.

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If bookmakers are to be believed, the evolution of Europe’s Ryder Cup team will come at an immediate cost. With a month to go until Darren Clarke oversees the defence of the trophy at Hazeltine the USA are heavily odds-on to win.

As Darren Clarke uses this weekend to ponder his wildcard picks for the European team, with the announcement to be made at Wentworth on Tuesday, the nuances of Ryder Cup captaincy will play a part in his thinking.